Operating-gearing for washing-machines.



J. BDBNS.

OPERATING GBARING FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED sBPT.19, 1912.

1,093,982, Patented Apr. 21, 1914 6C. K 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. jjgl.

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` J. BDENS. OPERATING GBARING FOR WASHING MACHINES. APPLIGATION FILED SBPYT. 19, 1912. 1,093,982. Patented 11111.21, 1914,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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JOI-IN EDENS, 0F DAVENPORT, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO H. F. BRAMMER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F DAVENPORT, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

OPERATING-GEARING FOR WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

This invention relates to an improvement` in operating mechanism for washing machines and the like and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is shown herein as applied to a washing machine of familiar type, consisting of a tub having a hinged top upon which is supported a shaft which depends into the tub and is provided at its lower end with a dolly or dasher adapted for rotary,

oscillatory movement by means of which the clothes and water are rst stirred in one di.

rection and then in the opposite direction.

The operating mechanism is of the lever actuated, high-speed gear type, and includes a prime-moving lever fulcrumed to the top of the support, in this case a tub, and a fly-wheel carried under the tub, together with mechanism for changing the oscillatory movement of the lever on the one hand into a rotary oscillatory movementof the dolly shaft, -and on the other hand into a continuous rotary movement of the fly-wheel.

The advantages of my improvement will. appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings z-Figure 1 is a view in side elevation (with a part broken away) of a washing machine provided with my improved operating mechanism. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 represent detail sectional views on an enlarged scale, taken in vertical planes indicated, respectively, bythe lines 3 3 and 4 4 of F ig. 1. Fig. 5 is a view representing a partial vertical section taken in a plane indicated Aby line 5-5 of'Fig. 2. Fig. 6 represents a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale taken in a plane indicated by line 6%-6 of Fig. 2t Figsi 7 and 8 are detail sectional views on an enlarged scale to be referred to more particularly later. Referring now to that embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, 10 indicates a support, in vthis case a tub of usual form mounted upon upright legs 11, 11. The said legs are rigidly braced apart by diagonally arranged cross-bars 11a, 11a. The support has a hinged member, in this case a lid 10a connected by hinges to a horizontal fixed board 10b forming a part of the top closure of the tub.

12 indicates a dolly or beater (see Fig. 3) which is non-rotatively connected to a dollyshaft 13 that is rotatively suspended from the top of the hinged member or lid 10a of the tub. The shaft 13 has bearing in a sleeve 14 which projects through an aperture in the lid of the tub and which, as shown, is made integral with a horizontal base-plate 14a attached to the top surface of the lid. A spur-gear 13L is fixed to the upper end of the shaft 13.

15 indicates a horizontal, longitudinally reciprocating, rack-bar having on one lateral edge rack-teeth 15a which engage the spurgear 13a on the dolly-shaft. Said raclebar slides in guides or ways comprising lugs 14", 14h, rising from the base-plate 14a and plates 141, 14 attached to said lugs.

16 indicates a lever adapted to swing in a vertical plane and fulcrumed between upright arms 14, 14 made integral, as shown with the base-plate 14a.

17 indicates a link connecting one arm 16 and having bearing support in horizontal l end vof the shaft 17a is secured a' horizong tal disk 20 which is provided in its top. face near its periphery with a plurality of spaced recesses or apertures 20a arranged in a circle.

21 indicates a pitman pivotally connect/ed at its inner end to one end of the rack-bar 15. The outer end of the pitman 21 carries a vertical pin 21a which is adapted for engagement with one of the apertures or recesses 20a. When the rack-bar 15 is reciprocated, it imparts through the pitman 21 a continuous, rotary movement to the disk 2O and shaft 17 Below the horizontal bottom wall of the tub or support and, as shown, in vertical alinement with the dollyshaft 12 is located a vertical shaft 22. The said shaft 22 is rotatively supported at its top and bottom ends in brackets 23, 24, respectively, secured to the bottom of the tub or support and to the cross-bars 11a, 11a, at their intersection. I preferably provide antifriction bearings for the shaft at these points which may be such as indicated at 25 in Fig. 8, the said figure illustrating a vertical central section of the bearing 23 at the top end of the shaft.

26 indicates a fly-wheel fixed on the shaft 22 near its upper end and 27 a pulley fixed on said shaft near its lower end. A pulley of largerv diameter 28 is fixed to the lower end of the vertical shaft 17 at the side of the tub and an endless band or belt 29 operatively connects the two pulleys 28, 27, so that the continuous rotary movement of the said shaft 17 will be communicated to the shaft 21 and thence to the fly-wheel which is caused to rotate at high speed.

The operation of my improved gearing is apparent from the foregoing description. The oscillation of the prime-mover, that is to say, the lever 16 will, through t-he link connecting it with the rack-bar 15, impart an oscillatory rotary movement to the dollyshaft and at the same time the pitman 21 connecting the outer en d of the rack-bar 15 with the disk 20 will impart a continuous rotary movement to the upright shaft 17. The shaft 17 will then impart a continuous rotary movement to the fly-wheel by means ofthe pulleys 28, 27 and the belt 29.

The advantage of using a belt-drive is apparent, the same being noiseless and in addition, if for any reason it is desired to stop the motion of the dolly-shaft, the handle of the prime moving lever is grasped to stop the movement of the same and should the momentum of the fly-wheel be such as to continue its rotation, the belt will slip on the small pulley 27, without producing an undue strain or jar on the mechanism.

In raising the lid 10a of the tub for any purpose, the pitman 21 will be automatically disengaged from its connection with the disk 2O and to prevent its falling back too far toward the hinges of the lid when thus disengaged, I provide upon the base-plate 14 a vertically arranged transverse flange 14e. That part of the said flange nearest the hinges of the tub-lid 10a is raised above the normal plane of the link 21 to form a lug 141f against which the pitman rests when the tub-lid is in raised position. In order that the pitman 21 may be properly engaged in one of the apertures in the disk 20 when the tub-lid is closed, I preferably provide upon said link a knob 21" to be grasped in shifting the pitman into such position that the pin 21a carried thereby will engage in one of the apertures or recesses in the disk 20.

lhile in describing one embodiment of my invention I have referred to certain details of mechanical construction and arrangement, it is to be understood that the invention is in no way limited thereby except as pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. Operating mechanism for washing machines and the like comprising, in combination with an operating shaft capable of rotary reciprocating movement, a gear fixed to said shaft, a reciprocable rack-bar in mesh with said gear, a hand-lever for actuating said rack-bar, a second shaft spaced from and parallel to said operating shaft, means connecting said second shaft with said rack-bar for continuously rotating said second shaft, a fly-wheel located below said operating shaft and a pulley and belt connection between said second shaft and said ily-wheel.

2. Operating mechanism for washing machines and the like comprising, in combination with a support including a movable top member, an operating shaft capable of rotary reciprocating movement carried by said top member, a o'ear fixed to said shaft, a reciprocable rockar carried by said top member' in mesh with said gear, a hand-lever fulcrumed on said top member for actuating said rack-bar, a second shaft rotatively mounted at the side of said support, means connecting said second shaft with said rackbar for continuously rotating said second shaft, said means including a device adapted to be detached when said top member is raised, a fly-wheel located below said support and a pulley and belt speed increasing connection between said second shaft and said fly-wheel.

3. 'Operating mechanism for washing machines and the like comprising, in combination with a support, an operating shaft capable of rotary reciprocatory movement, a gear secured to said shaft, a reciprocable rack-bar in mesh with said gear, a handlever for actuating said rack-bar, an intermediate shaft located at the side of said support extending parallel to said operating shaft, 4a crank-disk secured to the upper end of said intermediate shaft, a pitman for connecting said rack-bar with said crank-disk, a fly-wheel rotatively mounted below said support, and a belt and pulley speed-increasing connection between the lower end of said intermediate shaft and said ily-wheel.

4. Operating mechanism for washing machines and the like comprising, in combination with a support including a movable top member, a vertical operating shaft capable of rotary reciprocatory movement carried by said top member, a gear secured to said shaft., a horizontal, reciprocable rack-bar carried by said top member in mesh with said gear, a hand-lever fulcrumed on said top member for actuating said rack-bar, an intermediate vertical shaft located at the side of said support, a horizontal crank-disk secured to the upper end of said intermediate shaft, a pitman for connecting said rack-bar with said crank-disk, said pitman being detachable at one end, and a {1y-wheel rotatively mounted below said support and driven from said intermediate shaft.

5. Operating mechanism for washing machines and the like comprising, in combination with a support including a vertically swinging top member, a vertical operating shaft capable of rotary reciprocatory movement Carried by said top member, a gear secured to said shaft, a reciprocable rack-bar carried by said top member in mesh with said gear, a hand-lever ulcrumed on said top member for actuating said rack-bar, an intermediate vertical shaft located at the side of said support, a horizontal crank-disk secured to the upper end of said intermediate shaft, a pitman for connecting said rackebar with said crank-disk, said pitman having detachable connection with said crank-disk, a horizontal fly-wheel below said support, and a pulley and belt speed-increasing connection between the lower end of said intermediate shaft and said ly-wheel.

In testimony, that I, claim the foregoing as my invention I afx my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 16th day of September A. D. 1912.

JOHN EDENS.

Witnesses:

T. A. MURPHY, I. C. ANDERSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

